MTN, Glo Renew Old Rivalry Over Alleged Debt
Telecommunications service providers, MTN and Globacom are currently on each other’s throats over a debt running into billions of Naira.
In the ensuing rivalry, MTN had already secured the permission of the regulatory body, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) to disconnect Glo from its network, even as Glo kicked, insisting that it is not owing MTN a cent.
It all began yesterday, January 8, when NCC granted MTN Permission to partially disconnect Globacom, over Globacom’s refusal to pay interconnect debt of about N70 billion.
In a public notice, the telecom regulator said that Globacom has been given a 10-day notice, starting from January 8, after which the disconnection will be implemented.
When implemented, Globacom subscribers will be unable to call any MTN number but can receive inbound calls from MTN customers.
The notice read in part: “All subscribers are, therefore, requested to TAKE NOTICE that: The Commission has approved the Partial Disconnection of Globacom to MTN in accordance with Section 100 of the Nigerian Communications Act, 2003, and Paragraph 9 of the Guidelines on Procedure for Granting Approval to Disconnect Telecommunications Operators, 2012.
“At the expiration of 10 (ten) days from the date of this notice, subscribers of Globacom will no longer be able to make calls to MTN but will be able to RECEIVE CALLS. The Partial Disconnection, however, will allow inbound calls to the Globacom network. Please note that this disconnection will subsist until otherwise determined by the Commission.”
In 2020, former Executive Vice Chairman of the NCC, Professor Umar Danbatta put the interconnect debt figure at over N70 billion, saying that it had been threatening the operators’ capacity to expand their infrastructure for quality service.
He had at that time, noted that the interconnect debt was “a big challenge to infrastructure expansion and inimical to healthy competition” which are needed for facilitating the digital economy in Nigeria.
However, in a swift reaction today, January 9, Globacom Ltd, a Nigerian Telecommunications Company, denied reports that it is owing MTN interconnect charges.
A reliable source in Globacom told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the amount due for payment was N1.6 billion and it had been paid without controversy.
The Glo official said that a proper cross checking of facts should have been done before concluding that the telco was owing MTN.
“We are not owing MTN any interconnect charges,” the Glo official said.
The official reminded NCC and Nigerians that Glo was the first telecom company that introduced the pay per second form of billing, thereby cutting the monopoly of MTN and other foreign companies operating in Nigeria.
The Glo official described as totally false, report against Glo, which is Nigeria’s fully indigenous telecommunications company, adding that Glo has redefined access to communications at all levels.
